Combination valve and dust cap



@win/md] I 5 a Aug. 7, 1923. L464,376

W. w. WMNWRIGHT COMBINATION VALVE AND DUST CAP Filed Nov. 22. 1921 NTOR ATTORN EY Patented Aug. 7, ld.

milt

WILLEM MLSON WMNWRIGHT, F TAOM, WASHXNGTON.

CGMBIINATLVON VALVE AND JDUST CAP.

Application filed November 22, .1921. Serial No. 517,054.

. To all wwm it may concern.:

Be it known that ll, WILLIAM W. WAIN- wnIGH'r, a citizen of the United States, residin at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and tate of Washington, have invented a new and useful Combination Valve and Dust Cap, of which the followingy is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in l@ caps for the infiating valves of the inner tubes of pneumatic tires, and is more particularly directed to a combined valve and dust cap to take the place of the present valve and dust cap. l

in object of this invention is to provide a new and improved cap for the valve stem of an inner tube, which may be readily and quickly attached or detached from said stem, and which will not only prevent water and dust from clogging the valve stem, but likewise prevent air from escapingfrom the valve. By means of this invention, the valve stem is rendered air-tight, and the ordinary life of the stem is lengthened, as there is no wear on the stem.

Furthermore, the construction is such that the cap may be applied to valve stems fof dilerent lengths, so that it is immaterial whether a short or long stem is used, or

whether high or low pressure is contained within the tube.

llhe invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part oi this specification, with the understanding, `however, that the invention is not contined to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawing. but may be changed and 4o modified so long as such changes and modilications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

ln the drawing lli:

valve and dust cap removed from the valve stem of the inner tube.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section ot the combined 5m valve and dust cap in operative position upon the valve stem of the inner tube.

Fig. l is a plan view oit the operating wheel or knob.

Referring to the drawing, 1

cylindrical shell or cap w ich to be removably mounted upon a indicates a is adapted nut 2, havliig. 1 is an elevation of the combined ing the Washer 3 which ordinarily is screwed up tight upon the felly l oit an automobile wheel, through a passage in which the usual valve stem 5 of the inner tube is adapted to be inserted. rlhe outer free end of the cylindrical cap l is provided with a closed top 6, while the lower end is open and provided at diametrically opposite points with a pair of l'lslots each having a vertical opening 7 merging into a transverse opening 8,

the outer ends ofwhich are provided with sockets 9 and'lO adapted to seat lugs 11 diametrically disposed on the nut 2.

Slidably mounted within the dust cap 1 is a follower 12 having a depending cup portion 13, in which is mounted a rubber or fabric gasket 14, having a central recess 15 to receive the outer end 16 of the valve pin. A metal disk 17, having a semi-spherical portion 18 projecting in a direction away from the valve pin 16, is secured within the rubber gasket 14 and forms a pocket for the protection of the end of the valve pin. Mounted upon the follower 12 and integrally formed therewith is an upstanding socket 19, in which the lower end of a coiled spring 20 is adapted to be received and seated.

The upper end of the coiled spring'is adapted to abut a movable nut 21, which has a central internally threaded perforation .adapted to receive the threads of a short operating screw 22. The lower end ot the screw is provided with a circular ange 23 which acts as a stop to prevent the nut 21 from booming disengaged from the screw 22. The upper endof the screw is reduced inidiameter and is adapted to be passed through the internally threaded central perforation in disk 2li, rotatably held within the upper end of the casing and having a boss 25 extending upwardly through a centrally disposed opening in the top 6 of the cylindrical cap 1. A knurled knob or wheel 26 likewise has an internally screwthreaded central perforation which engages the threads of the reduced portion of the screw 22, resting upon the boss 25 of the disk 24C, and providing a means for manually rotating'the screw 22. The outer end ot the screw 22 has an upset end 27, which engages the outer surface of the lrnurled wheel 26 and prevents said wheel from being unscrewed from the reduced end of the screw 22 when the wheel is turned.

As has been previously stated, the device roe not only provides a dust-proof cap and valve for preventing leakin of the air through the valve stem 5, but it l1 ewise provides an adjustable device which is applicable to valve stems of dierent lengths. The nut 21 may be adjusted vertically along the length ot the screw by rotation of said screw in a direcu tion indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, to cause the spring 20 to be moved towards the bottom of the cylindrical cap, and force the follower 12 towards the open end of the cap, thus adapting the combined valve and dust cap for use with shorter valve stems.

A reversal of the direction of rotation of the screw will adapt the device for use with stems of l greater length. In either case, whether applied to a long 'or short stem, the tension of the spring may be so adjusted that the pressure of the iollower on the end of the valve stem will be the same. ln making this adjustment the knurled head 26 and disk 24 are held against relative movement on the screw by the upset end 27 on one side and the shoulder formed by the larger portion of the screw 22 on the other side.

The cylindrical casing 1 is provided with indentations 28 near its lower end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which project interiorly of the casing and engage the bottom of the pocket 19 in which the spring 20 is seated, and kprevent the follower from being 'forced :from the cylindrical casing, thereby forming a complete unitary device, all parts being self-contained within the casing 1.

The valve cap 1 is applied to the valve stem 5 of an inner tube so that the rubber gasket 14 will be seated upon the outer free end of the stem 5, with the valve pin projecting upwardly and into the protecting domeshaped enclosure 15. The casing is then forced downwardly or inwardly by pressin upon the knurled wheel 26 until the vertica slot 7 of the T-shaped groove cut in the diametrically opposite sides of the casin 1 ein brace the pins 11 projecting outward y rom the nut 2. When the pins 11 have reached the transverse groove or slot 8, the casing 1 is turned in either direction until the pins 11 areseated within the sockets 9 or l()` of the transverse groove 8. The dust cap is new in position where it cannot be readily jarred loose lfrom its connection with the nut 2.

If it should be found that the valve stem 5 leaks, it will only be necessary to remove cap 1, pump suilicient air into the inner tube and replace the cylindrical cap in the manner that has just been stated. Then the lrnurled head may be turned in a direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, when the nut 21 will be moved downwardly on the screw 22 andv .force the spring against the follower 12, causing a greater pressure of the rubber gasket on the reduced end of the valve stem 5. ln this adjusted position o the nut 21, the spring` is pressed against the follower 12 with a pressure which is considerably greater than the amount ordinarily used in a tire of the largest type, and no amount of expansion of the air in the tube will dislodge the 'follower 12 from its seating position 'on the end of the valve stem 5, there providing an absolute air-tight closure for the end of the valve stem.

It is common knowledge that the life of pneumatic tires depend to a considerable eX- tent on proper inflation. With the use of present appliances, tires are not maintained at a proper air pressure. This is lpartly due to the fact that the operation of pumping up a tire involves loss of time with the possibility of hands and clothes being soiled in removing and replacing the ordinary dust and valve cap. Moreover, the caps themselves are frequently lost. By the present invention, the troubles incident to the use of the ordinary valve and dust cap are wholly removed, and

makes it possible to obtain access to the valve stem Yfor pumping up the tire in a ew seconds time.

Moreover, the device prevents leakage of air through the valve, which is a common occurrence with the present type of valve caps.

What is claimed is 1. ln a combined valve and dust cap, in,

combination, a casing adapted to be removably mounted on the valve stem of an inner tube, a slidably mounted follower located within the casing and adapted to engage and seal the end of the valve stem, a screw rotatably mounted in one end o the casing and operable from outside the casing, a nut on the screw adapted to be adjusted vertically within the casing by the rotation of the screw, and a compression spring engaging between the nut and follower.

2. In a combined valve and dust cap, in combination, a casing adapted to be removably mounted on the valve stem of an inner tube, a slidably mounted follower provided with oppositely disposed sockets, one of which is provided with a gasket to seal the end of the valve stem and having a recess to receive the end of the valve pin, a spring having one end seated in the other socket of the follower, 'a nut engaging the other end of the spring, and a screw on which the nut is threaded,said screw being rotatable to cause a vertical movement of the nut in the casing to compress the spring and change the relative clamping osition o the `ltollower with relation to die end ofthe 'valve stem.

a construction provided which 3. In a, combined valve and dus-t cap, in l valve stem, a screw rotatably mounted inu neeeeve ehe closed end of he casing and piojeciing *eviti-hin the casing, ineens on `ehe outside of Jehe casing for note-ting ehe sciew, end e nuion ehe scievv adapted to be moved in nhe ces ing upon rotaeion of the sciew foi verving ihe position of ihe oiiowe and causing the seme no accommodate veive Steins of verving iengihs Within 'ehe casing.

e. lin i combined valve end dosi-cago, e subsanitieiiy cyiindieei casing having e.. screw projecting iongitudineiiv thi'oughone end, e nui Within the casing having e threaded connecion with bhe sciew, e ie cipiocaibie member Within the easing, e, spi-ing between the nuf and Iecipiocebie member, and ineens secuied iso the projecting end of ehe sci'ew whereby the iehtei may be zoeted io edi/ence oi iefnreci: the nut end ihefeby veiy the zichion o" the spring.

5, in e combined veive end dust-oeps e subsientieiiy eyiindeici casing having ineens for ef-eching its inner end to e valve siem, e ioiiovv'ei eeciprocebie Within ehe cee inv end engegeeble with ihe end of ehe vznve stem to Seel the seine, e coiled spring Within ehe cesin i having one end noi'nieiiv engaging ehe fol ovvei end so iensioned es iso urge the foiiowei into engegemeni with the valve sienos e screw projecting through ehe ,ouei1 end of the casing, end e nui in hreiided engagement with ehe sci-ew inside 'he casing end opei'ebie upon notation of the screw eo edius; the iteneion of the sprinv.

6. in ai combined veive end dust-Cep, e substenieiiy cyiindficei casing, e, sciew having e iei'gen threaded poiftion Within xbe :casing and e sineiiei zhi'eeded portion eze vending thfough the end oi? the casing, seid smeliei portion 'iemineeing in en upset end e nut in ihieeded engegenieniI with ehe larger portion of the scnevv, e, dish end heed ehieeded on the sineiiei portion of ehe scievv inside and oueeide 'ehe end of ehe casing i'eepeceiveiy sind heid egeinsii iongitudinei.

movement eheeon by zhe ieigei poriion of ehe screw on izhe one side end the upset end on the other side.

7. iin e combined valve end dusecep, ishe combination of e easing; edepied io be ie- .movebiy mounted on ai, veive seeins e, siidebiy .mounted foil-owen ioceted vviihin ehe casing and edfipied io engage and seni. the end of bhe vaive seein, e, spring having one end engaging che oiiovver to uige ie ino engegemeni; with 4he valve stem, e nut engage* ebie vviih the oihei end of zhe spring, e seieiv hei/inge ieiger porbion in iheeaded engagement with ehe nue end e smaiier iihreaded poii'sion projecting through ehe end oi' ehe casing having its end upse, e disk and heed thi'eeded on ihe sineiiei pozion oi3 Jche sciew inside and outside ehe end of ehe casing' respectively and heid against iongiiudinzil movement fsheieon by the iergei" poi iiion of the sciew on che one side end the upset end on Jehe other side, Wheieby the ioeetion of seid head vviii advance oi* ne imei, *ehe nui; and very ehe eension ofu the sprin 8. n e, combined veive end dlisocep, e

casing having ehe nppei end ciosed and ehe innei1 end opens Wiizh siois ai; bhe open end,

leech oie seid slots having e ieeeiaii bmnch eiinineiing in e downweidij7i;urned eockee, zi nue edepfied to be mounted on ehe veive einem end having ings engegeebie with iLhe sochei'cs9 e, oiiowei ioosei niouned vviihin the casing and engaging `ne end of the veive stem, end spying ineens Within ehe casing opeeeiing @to heid `the foiioiver in iirzn engegement Wiih the veive siem end ehe ings in engegeinen Wifah ehe sockets buh yieidabie ibo permit the removei or inseition of ine ings in seid eoeieis,

iin ices'zimony mais oieirn ihe foregoing es inv own, i have heieizo -iixed my signeeuie. 

